Michael Phipps was on top of his game. He was finding open teammates and the back of the net.

Through the first eight games last season, Phipps had eight goals and six assists, almost doubling his output from the previous year.

But then Phipps’ breakout season ended abruptly, as he left the Terrapin men’s lacrosse’s game against Virginia early with an ankle injury.

That was April 2005. He wouldn’t play in a game again until February 2006, when the Terps opened this season against Georgetown.

That day, the waiting game ended for Phipps, who spent the offseason resting, refueling and reinvigorating his body. Heading into the NCAA tournament, Phipps may be the Terps’ secret weapon, as few teams fear a player with only four goals.

But the numbers aren’t the game. Instead, the road back to the starting lineup defines Phipps.

“I told him at the beginning of the year I’m more proud of him for the preparation, even before he plays a single game,” said Phipps’ father, Wilson.

Last year, Michael Phipps couldn’t just hop on a stationary bike and hope to return by the playoffs. The Terps lost Phipps but filled his spot with Dave Matz and Max Ritz, going on to make the playoffs after a tough midseason swoon.

The Terps exceeded expectations by advancing all the way to the final four. And that playoff run was one of the most difficult things for Phipps to endure while on the sideline.

“It was very disappointing not to be a part of the playoffs,” he said. “That provided just a little extra motivation to get back this year and try to enjoy the experience of the playoffs on the field.”

Motivation did take shape for Phipps, as he had to rest his ankle before returning to play. Phipps conditioned in the offseason and Ritz said he came back in “unbelievable shape.”

Getting in that shape was partly the result of mental frustration from sitting out.

“You know it’s going to take time, and you just have to accept that and just take the disappointment that comes with it,” Phipps said “You just have to know eventually it’s going to get better.”

Statistically, it hasn’t. Phipps is shooting the lowest percentage (13.3) among the starting Terp offensive players. But surrounded by attackmen and midfielders with a nose for the net, Phipps isn’t complaining about having the fewest shots among the Terps’ starters.

Those numbers have often caused opponents to disregard Phipps by putting a short-stick defender on him and basically begging him to beat them. It’s another source of motivation, but with the Terps’ other offensive weapons, Phipps doesn’t protest the strategy.

“When you get short-sticked, they think the other offensive players are more dangerous than you, so you wanna make them pay,” he said. “But I don’t feel disrespected. I almost agree with it.”

Other than some frustration about the lack of goals, Phipps isn’t down on his performance, saying he’s contributed the way he wanted to and is now 100 percent.

The goal column hasn’t been Phipps’ strongest point, but his teammates and coach think every other part of his game has improved since last season. Terp coach Dave Cottle called Phipps the team’s best passer, and his 15 assists are a testament to that.

Senior midfielder Xander Ritz said Phipps also has a bunch of “hockey assists” – or the pass before the pass that leads to a goal.

“He’s good at a lot of the things that don’t show up in the score sheet, like picking up groundballs,” Ritz said. “He draws double teams well, he’s a good dodger, he’s become very conditioned. He’s brought a lot to our team without having a lot of goals.”

Wilson Phipps pointed to the end of the Terps’ ACC tournament win over North Carolina as one of his son’s defining plays. Michael Phipps had the assist on Ritz’s game-winning goal, but that’s not the play Wilson talked about. It was the groundball Michael scooped up that allowed Cottle to call a time-out and set up the final tally.

Phipps learned that kind of play from his father, who was on the last Terp team to win a national title in 1975. Wilson said he tried to pass on to Michael the style of his coach, Clayton “Bud” Beardmore.

Michael has clearly bought into that philosophy and his teammates who get those passes rave about Phipps’ ability to ride defenders, pick up groundballs and do what’s asked of him.

After the trip back from the bench, Phipps is just grateful his cleats can touch the Byrd Stadium grass again, as they will today in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Denver.

“I’m just getting ready to try to make my print on the playoffs,” Phipps said. “I can’t tell you how exciting it is, how much I’m looking forward to the opportunity I didn’t have last year.”

Contact reporter Stephen Whyno at whynodbk@gmail.com.